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View Full Version : Fly line -> leader knot



the1club
02-20-2012, 07:22 PM
I was wondering if the nail knot + perfection loop is the best combination to tie between the fly line and the leader as far as fly presentation goes. Is there any other knot the folks would say is more appropriate to contribute with a good presentation? I do like the flexibility those loops provide on changing leaders :smile:

Thank you in advance!

RonT
02-22-2012, 09:19 AM
I use braided loops on my lines which makes changing out my furled leaders easier. I fish line weights from 2 to 9 on rods varying from 6'10" to 12'6" and use this method on all of the lines for these rods.
In short...I prefer loop to loop connections.
Cheers,
R

the1club
02-22-2012, 02:47 PM
Braided loops are nice indeed. The last two fly lines I bought (Orvis) came with braided loops tied, so it was quite straight forward. I have now bought a Cortland Sylk DT-3, which doesn't have such feature and that's the real reason behind my question. Do you buy the braided loops ready to go or do you use braided monos to make them yourself?

RonT
02-22-2012, 03:12 PM
I bought the first pack of ~3 or 4, then discovered that there are lots of braided whatevers that haven't been converted to loops. The last ones that I made were from a nylon adjusting cord from window blinds, those are for my Steelhead and Hybrid Striped Bass lines. Others were from braided running line.
I made a puller (like a bobbin threader, only longer) out of a banjo string (G) to insert "up the gut' to snatch the tag end prior to pulling through to form the loop.
Cheers,
R

jeepster
02-23-2012, 10:57 AM
I have a cortland sylk dt3 with a cabela’s slip on leader loop. It works great. If you ever used a chinese finger puzzle as a kid you can attach this loop to your fly line.

http://users.dakotacom.net/~jeepster/1718.jpg

http://users.dakotacom.net/~jeepster/1728.jpg

the1club
02-23-2012, 05:56 PM
Thank you jeepster, Ron. I've just bought 8 of these ready-to-go braided loops from an online auction to start with :thumbsup:

RonT
02-23-2012, 06:11 PM
Side note: I don't use the 'shrink tube' sleeve over the tail end, rather a mono Nail Knot of ~7-8 turns ~ 1/8" from the 'fuzz'. I then use nail clippers to trim off the exposed 'fuzz'. Maybe a thin coat of Flex Seal of some sort over the knot.
Cheers,
R

the1club
02-23-2012, 08:26 PM
Why is that? Does it make it lighter? Does the tube require heat to shrink?

In this movie he uses nail knot instead as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNKRidC75RI

RonT
02-24-2012, 09:40 AM
'Cause I can. Probably. I believe so, never tried that. Yes, same method.
R

mems
02-26-2012, 04:40 AM
Aloha, I use a braided loop as well, no nail knots for bonefish. Instead of the heat shrink, use a nail knot with gsp and some softex over the knot and the braided loop. It has not failed yet on any fish, mahi, ahi or ono. For trout you can get away with a nail knot, but what happens if you hook a big one and it breaks off and breaks your heart. Loops are easy to attach and easy to change the leader. Mems.

51BC
02-26-2012, 09:16 AM
I had a bad experience with the braided loops. Lost a nice trout on the Popo Agie when the loop slid off my line. Probably my fault, but I haven't used one since. Nail knot with a dab of UV knot Sense for me.

Doctor
02-26-2012, 10:06 AM
This is a nice neat way to do the join ,vary the nylon to suit the line weight .
http://www.graysofkilsyth.com/fishing-knots.htm

A little practice and a real neat loop forned ,much neater than the vast majoity of braid loops and I trust them much more .

jeepster
02-26-2012, 10:51 AM
That gray’s loop is pretty cool.

Doctor
02-28-2012, 01:13 PM
Cool they are,slowly converting most of my lines over to them ,using fluro on the sinking lines as they should last for a very long time .

Speyfisher
08-14-2014, 08:58 PM
It's been a very long time since I posted here. In fact I'm surprised I was even able to log on. So, although you guys don't know me, & will probably think I'm crazy, Gus knows me from his Rogue River days & can vouch for me. (that I am, in fact, certified crazy) :w00t: So here goes.

First off, I hate those braided loop things with a real passion. Second, if there is any way I can eliminate a knot, I'm all for it. For the little stuff, say 5 wt & under, I favor the Dave Whitlock method of splicing a knot-less (store bought) tapered leader directly to the fly line. Much simpler than the Gray's loop, which was very good btw. For the heavier stuff, I prefer a loop to loop connection consisting of either a welded or a spliced loop on the line and a perfection loop on the leader. Neither Chinook Salmon, Sea run Browns, Steelhead, or big Carp have ever broken my loops.

It takes some practice to learn how to do this stuff, but what the hell, you guys have closed seasons. Down time. We fish all year long out here.

Hey Gus, I like that auto save feature. Saves a lot of time & frustration for fumble fingered old guys like me.

Thanks, JD

gusstrand
08-14-2014, 11:31 PM
Hey JD! Glad to see you here, man! Still chasing chrome and skirts in the Rogue Valley?

Skeet6
08-24-2014, 07:52 PM
I've always used a nail knot, but one Orvis reel I bought came with the 4WF line setup with a loop... it was cool for a while, I felt like it "hinged" a bit, and cut it off and went back to nail knots. I use a typical nail knot tool.
Mike B